Good morning, and welcome back to the garage. Pour yourself a cup, because The Auto Wire’s newsroom didn’t slow down yesterday. From a driver-assist system that calls for help on its own to a classic Corvette’s brakes giving out, here’s everything our team published that’s worth your first ten minutes of the day.
Volkswagen’s Cars Can Now Pull Over and Call for Help by Themselves. You’re Still Legally the One Driving
Shawn Henry breaks down VW’s new Emergency Assist Plus system, which can steer a car to the shoulder and call for help when a driver goes unresponsive, and explains why you’re still the one legally in control.
Stellantis Says the World Splits in Two. Its Own Paperwork Shows Exactly Where the Line Falls.
John Lloyd digs into CEO Antonio Filosa’s comments to stock analysts and the internal paperwork that shows exactly how Stellantis is drawing the line between its winning and losing markets.
Ford’s Record China Exports Aren’t Growth. They’re a Hedge Against China Itself
Jim Farley’s trip to shake hands with Ford’s export partner looks like good news on paper, but John Lloyd explains why the record numbers are really a hedge rather than a growth story.
Rain Sensors Used to Be a Comfort Feature. Now They’re Rewriting What a Windshield Costs to Replace
John Lloyd looks at new market data showing the rain-sensor business is set to nearly double by 2035, and why that’s quietly driving up the price of a simple windshield swap.
Ford Edge 2.0L EcoBoost Petition: What Ford’s Own Bulletins Reveal
Eve Nowell reads through the technical service bulletins behind a growing owner petition over the Ford Edge’s 2.0L EcoBoost engine, and what Ford has already admitted in writing.
Spain Just Issued Its First Robotaxi Permit — But There’s Still a Human Driving It
John Lloyd covers Spain’s first robotaxi permit, handed to WeRide, Uber, and fleet operator AVOMO, with a catch that keeps a human firmly behind the wheel for now.
Why Americans Keep Cars Longer: Prices, Loans and Repair Math
Eve Nowell walks through the pricing, loan terms, and repair costs pushing the average owner to hang onto their vehicle well past the mileage marks that used to trigger an upgrade.
Why a Stored 1966 Corvette Lost Its Brakes and Hit a House
Eve Nowell traces the spring wake-up routine that went wrong for one classic Corvette owner, and the brake failure that ended with the car parked inside a house.
19-Year-Old Charged With Stunt Driving After Chaotic St. Louis Street Takeover
Shawn Henry has the details on the criminal charge now facing a 19-year-old after St. Louis police say she took part in a chaotic street takeover.
That’s the lineup for this morning. Refill your mug and click through, we’ll be back with more before lunch.